Businessman Ed Hale Jr. said he is planning a run for the Baltimore County Council in 2018.

The 50-year-old Cockeysville resident told The Sun he has not officially filed for candidacy yet, but was holding his first fundraiser Monday evening, at Hightopps Backstage Grille. A Republican, he's running in District 3, which covers the northern part of the county. That seat on the seven-member council is currently held by Republican Wade Kach, also of Cockeysville.

Hale said he would work to attract new businesses to commercial areas while protecting the rural landscape of the district. He said his platform would also focus on school issues. He described himself as "a fiscally conservative Republican" and wants the county to lower property taxes.

"I'm all about trying to keep the costs down as much as we can," said Hale, who owns Hale Transport.

Hale is the son of Ed Hale Sr., the Baltimore developer, founder of the Baltimore Blast, and former CEO of First Mariner Bancorp.